Festive Penang

Pulau Pinang is the focus of several important festivals and events throughout the year, starting with the riotous Hindu celebration Thaipusam. Perhaps the best known of the rest is the November Penang Bridge Run (wpenangmarathon.gov.my), when thousands of competitors run a pre-dawn marathon via the bridge to Butterworth. June sees the International Dragonboat Race (wpenangdragonboat.gov.my), a nominally Chinese event commemorating the death of a patriotic poet in 278 BC, while the July Cultural Festival (wgeorgetownfestival.com) provides a showcase for Penang’s ethnic groups, with a three-day food festival, art events and traditional Chinese opera performances at the temples. In November or December, Batu Ferrenghi also hosts the Penang Jazz Festival (wpenangjazz.com), attracting local and international performers.